Thierry Henry Honoured with BBC Lifetime Achievement Award for Football Excellence

A Well-Deserved Recognition for a Football Icon

Former French striker Thierry Henry is to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. This prestigious recognition celebrates one of football’s most influential figures, whose impact on the beautiful game continues to resonate across generations. Henry will take his place among the most revered figures in global sport, joining an elite list that includes Pelé, Sir Bobby Charlton, and Sir David Beckham.

A Career Defined by Excellence

Henry scored 228 goals in 377 matches for Arsenal across his two spells with the Gunners, eclipsing Ian Wright to become the club’s record goalscorer in 2005. He won three FA Cups and two Premier League titles during his time in England – including the 2003-04 season when Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ remained unbeaten throughout the Premier League campaign. Beyond club success, Henry was also a central figure in France’s golden generation, lifting the World Cup on home soil in 1998 and adding the European Championship two years later.

After eight glittering years at Arsenal, Henry joined Barcelona in 2007 and became part of a historic treble-winning side in 2009. The French icon’s technical brilliance and goal-scoring prowess revolutionised what it meant to be a modern forward.

Continuing Influence Beyond Playing Days

Since retiring in 2014, Henry has remained deeply connected to football. In 2023, Henry was appointed head coach of France’s Under-21s and later led the national Olympic side at the Paris Games in 2024. France reached the final and claimed silver, falling to Spain in the summit clash. Additionally, Henry has been announced as one of the lead analysts for FOX Sports’ FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast team, ensuring his expertise will reach global audiences.

A Lasting Legacy

Reflecting on the honour, Henry stated: “Football has given me everything and I gave it my all. To be recognised as part of its history with this Lifetime Achievement award and to have made my mark for the fans and my team-mates is something I’ll never take for granted.” This recognition underscores Henry’s enduring significance to football, celebrating a player who not only achieved remarkable success but fundamentally shaped how the sport is played and appreciated today.